JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 987

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. State and local officials responded to student-led walkouts protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, warning schools to prevent disruptions during instructional hours. The Florida Department of Education sent districts a letter advising administrators to protect instructional time, acknowledging students retain free-expression rights. Florida districts reported lunchtime and class-period demonstrations at high schools in Tampa, Jacksonville, Brevard, Cape Coral and Lee County; school boards outlined potential suspensions or expulsions for leaving campus without permission. Republican lawmakers raised concerns about teacher involvement organizing walkouts. Houston-area districts issued similar warnings for Friday walkouts. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion funding bill Tuesday, ending a partial federal shutdown after the House approved the measure 217-214. The package funded most agencies through Sept. 30 but only extended DHS funding briefly, setting an urgent deadline for negotiations. Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries outlined demands this week to rein in ICE and CBP, seeking ID display, body cameras, mask restrictions and warrant requirements; Republicans criticized the proposals Thursday. Lawmakers face renewed negotiations before the DHS stopgap expires. Negotiations remain under pressure. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Albany, New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her lieutenant governor running mate and introduced legislation to ban state police departments from entering formal cooperation agreements with federal immigration authorities. Hochul said fewer than 10 of New York’s 62 counties currently cooperate with ICE and criticized ICE after recent fatal shootings drew scrutiny of federal agents. Her incumbent lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, has launched a primary challenge. Progressive lawmaker Zohran Mamdani is expected to endorse Hochul before the party convention this week. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States — This week, seven HelloNation articles via PRNewswire presented local experts giving practical consumer guidance on housing, estate planning, HVAC maintenance, security services, real estate timing, e-commerce returns, and window defogging. Experts in Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Reading, Brockport, Rochester, Phoenix, and Bentonville outlined actionable steps, trade practices, and preventive measures, and emphasized personal readiness, legal documentation, regular maintenance, site assessments, pricing strategy, returns management, and defogging techniques. PRNewswire published the pieces Feb. 4–6, 2026, citing named professionals and companies, and provided practical consumer takeaways. Reporters verified dates and sources across releases. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, The United States will hold talks with Iran in Oman on Friday after U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone this week for approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln, officials said. Iran moved the meeting from Istanbul to Muscat and insisted the session focus on its nuclear program, while the U.S. sought a broader agenda, sources said. At least nine regional governments urged Washington not to cancel the talks as format disagreements threatened the meeting. Iranian and U.S. officials confirmed the schedule on Wednesday and the White House authorized participation. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research and sources.

Tampa — Hillsborough County officials advanced discussions week over a proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark and mixed‑use district at the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus. County commissioners reviewed funding frameworks on Wednesday and heard details Feb. 4 about a proposed $2.3 billion stadium within a 113‑ to 120‑acre development. The team released renderings Thursday for a 31,000‑seat stadium and Champions Quarter, and Rays owners have pledged to cover half of stadium costs while pursuing up to $8–10 billion in private investment for the surrounding district. Governor Ron DeSantis has supported land transfer. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke Wednesday by phone, discussing Iran and broader U.S.-China ties, including trade, Taiwan and Trump's planned April visit to Beijing. Trump posted that their personal relationship remains strong and that both leaders sought to maintain stable ties. The Chinese readout noted talks on major upcoming summits and possible meetings but did not mention the April visit. The U.S. administration said it is pressing Beijing and other countries to isolate Tehran. China reiterated its long-term objective of reunifying Taiwan. Officials provided no public follow-up schedule. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

BATON ROUGE — State Sen. Blake Miguez announced this week he will withdraw from the U.S. Senate race and instead run for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, after Rep. Julia Letlow entered the Senate contest. President Donald Trump posted his endorsement of Miguez on Truth Social Wednesday, calling him a “MAGA Warrior” and listing policy priorities Miguez would support. The endorsement followed Trump’s earlier backing of Letlow in her Senate bid against Sen. Bill Cassidy. Multiple local outlets reported candidates in the 5th District said they will remain in the primary despite Trump’s backing. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Nogales, Arizona — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the U.S.-Mexico border this week, praising Department of Homeland Security and border agents for reduced encounters and outlining prior investments. Noem cited a 95 percent drop in daily encounters and an average apprehension decline from 5,100 to under 250 per day, and claimed a 30 percent reduction in fentanyl deaths. Her visit followed scrutiny over a $70 million warehouse purchase and protests after recent immigration raids. She also briefly toured northern border facilities in Grand Forks to discuss UAS support and border technology. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States: Lawmakers, industry and technology firms are addressing a rapid expansion of data centers and associated energy, regulatory and community concerns. This week state legislatures in Ohio, Michigan, Alabama and South Carolina introduced bills or hearings to study incentives, utility regulation, grid reliability and environmental impacts, while companies and investors build new facilities and AI-related infrastructure, including Utilidata's Ann Arbor lab and U.S. tech investments in India. Experts testified about potential higher utility costs and grid strain during peak demand. Communities raised local opposition to large projects, and company announcements recently. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.